Russell Brandhas sparked fury with plans to reopen his village pub - as locals in the sleepy Oxfordshire village have branded him a 'scoundrel'.
The once-comedian, who is being investigated by the Met Police for alleged sexual misconduct, has left residents fuming with his application to turn the 800-year-old The Crown Inn, in Pishill, into recording studios.
The 49-year-old's previous attempts to convert the drinking hole into studios and a community space were roundly rejected with more than 50 local objections in February.
And locals say his latest iteration would still leave them without a local, as it seeks to create a'mixed use of pub, ancillary accommodation, function room, media studio, offices'.
'No one believes he's going to open the pub,'Josh Robinson-Ward, who was married at in the pub, told The Guardian. 'He's said from the beginning he had plans to open the pub but never has and it's unclear that he'll have to open it if this goes through. From the off I think he thought that if he had enough money he could just do what he wants.'
Another slammed him as 'a scoundrel, it's as simple as that.' They added: 'I can't stand the man.'
The once-comedian, who is being investigated by the Met Police for alleged sexual misconduct, has left residents fuming with his application to turn the 800-year-old The Crown Inn, in Pishill (pictured) into recording studios
Last week Brand said he was 'just back from Narnia' as he tried to flog £180 'magical' amulets to protect their wearers from WiFi and 'evil energies'
Brand's previous attempts to convert the drinking hole into studios and a community space were roundly rejected with more than 50 local objections in February
Locals say his latest iteration would still leave them without a local, as it seeks to create a 'mixed use of pub, ancillary accommodation, function room, media studio, offices'
Others complained that they could not escape Brand's rants as he performs for his controversial podcasts.
Last week he said he was 'just back from Narnia' as he tried to flog £180 'magical' amulets to protect their wearers from WiFi and 'evil energies'.
Retired farmerDavid Orpwood complained: 'When he goes, we'll still be here. He's going to bugger up the pub and we'll be left with nothing.'
Others have accused the showbiz personality of 'playing the long game' as they fear the council will finally give in if the process is dragged out for long enough. They complain that planning violations have not been addressed.
William Stonor, 8th Lord Camoys, of Stonor Park, the Oxfordshire family seat which successive generations of Stonors have occupied since before the Norman Conquest, is another local among Brand's vocal critics.
He pointed out in a letter to the local council that when Brand bought The Crown, he 'did so promising to keep the pub open'.
Since then, though, adds the peer, he has 'made no attempt to re-open it'. So the revised plans must be conditional on the pub being 'marketed and let on such terms as would facilitate its long term use as a public house' – before any part of it is used for an office or 'other uses'. Otherwise, 'the application must be refused'.
Even the local MP, Lib DemFreddie van Mierlo, has slammed Brand - saying that pubs 'are not the playthings of the wealthy', as he called for the village hub to be 'protected and cherished'.
The 15th century former coaching inn near Henley-on-Thames includes a pub garden, outdoor seating area, car park, detached barn, stable building, two-bed cottage and garage
Fifty three neighbours objected to his first application to convert The Crown into a recording studio and the plans were rejected by the council in February
Accusations published in The Sunday Times and on Channel 4's Dispatches saw multiple women accusing Brand of abusive and predatory behaviour, including rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse, between 2006 and 2013.
He has vehemently denied the allegations – but the BBC, Channel 4 and production firm Banijay have launched investigations into his behaviour, while the Met Police and Thames Valley police said they are investigating complaints.
Brand was previously forced to pull down fencing around the pub after heput it up in breach of planning regulations the day after the allegations surfaced.
Fifty three neighbours objected to his first application to convert The Crown into a recording studio and the plans were rejected by the council in February.
Just two weeks later, Brand's production company - Pablo Diablo's Legitimate Business Firm Limited - submitted another application calling for the pub's first floor to be made into offices with the garage and cottage converted into a filming studio.
The 15th century former coaching inn near Henley-on-Thames includes a pub garden, outdoor seating area, car park, detached barn, stable building, two-bed cottage and garage.
A council spokesperson said:'The planning application at The Crown, Pishill is currently going through the planning process.
'The council's Planning Enforcement team are aware of the case and will await the outcome of this application before considering any action, if required.
'We expect to make a decision on the application shortly.'
